And as he turned his face toward Madyan, he said: “I do hope that my Lord will guide me to the right path.”
When he arrived at the wells of Madyan, he found there a large group of people drawing water (for their herds), and at some distance from them he found two women who were keeping back their flock. He asked them: “What is the matter with you two?” They said: “We cannot water (our animals) until the herdsmen drive home. Our father is a very old man.”
So he watered their flock for them, and then he withdrew into the shade and prayed: “My Lord! Truly am I in dire need of any good which You may send me.”
One of the two women then came back to him, walking shyly, and said: “My father invites you, so that he might duly reward you for having watered our flock for us.” And when (Moses) went to him and told him his story, he said: “Have no fear. You are now safe from those wrongdoing folk.” (The Story, Al-Qasas: 28: 22-25)
Moses was warned by a well wisher that a plot was being discussed to have him killed in retaliation for his killing of an Egyptian, said to be working in Pharaoh’s palace, as he struck him to defend a man from his own community. The well-wisher advised him that he should leave the city straightaway. Grateful for the advice, Moses immediately left, taking an eastward direction.
His long trek has brought him into Madyan, tired, exhausted. Yet the scene before him is one that a person with sound moral sense cannot condone. Moses saw many shepherds bringing their cattle to drink at the water, but two women stood aside, preventing their flock from reaching the water. People with a good sense of integrity and moral values would have allowed the two women to water their sheep first and leave before the men begin to take care of their cattle. Despite his exhaustion, Moses, the stranger, could not accept what he saw. He stepped forward to ask the two ladies: “What is the matter with you two?” (Verse 23)
They appraised him of their situation: “They said: We cannot water (our animals) until the herdsmen drive home. Our father is a very old man.” (Verse 23) It was their weakness that brought about their delay. They could not fend for themselves in the midst of so many men, while their father was an old man who could not compete with younger and stronger men. Moses’ sense of fairness could not tolerate this. He stepped forward to put things right. He watered their flock for them before the rest, as honorable people should have done in the first place. He does not stop to consider his own position first, as a runaway arriving in a place where he knows no one and can rely on no support. Nothing of all this stops him from acting as the honorable man he is.
“So he watered their flock for them.” (Verse 24) This was a testimony for his noble soul reared under God’s watchful eye. It also speaks of his physical strength that makes him feared even when exhausted by his long trek. It might be that his mental rather than physical power that made the other shepherds hold him in awe. People are normally more affected by spiritual strength.
“Then he withdrew into the shade.” (Verse 24) This suggests that it was the hot season when Moses undertook that long journey. And then he sends a prayer: “My Lord! Truly am I in dire need of any good which You may send me.” (Verse 24) He seeks the physical shade to rest his tired limbs, and he seeks the great shade spread by God whose generosity is unlimited to comfort his heart and soul. This is the essence of his prayer: “My Lord! Truly am I in dire need of any good which You may send me.” (Verse 24) In my weakness in this lonely, hot place where I am a stranger who knows no one, I am, my Lord, in dire need of your kind help and endless favors. This whispered, passionate prayer reflects the warmth of Moses’ heart and his confident pursuit of God’s kindness where he is certain to find complete security and unshakable support. It tells us of the strong bond Moses feels with his Lord: “My Lord! Truly am I in dire need of any good which You may send me.” (Verse 24)
We are hardly absorbed with Moses in his passionate prayer when the surah quickly brings up the next scene that ushers an end to his troubles. This begins with the conjunction that indicates a quick sequence. It is as if the heavens rush to respond to his passionate prayer:
“One of the two women then came back to him, walking shyly, and said: ‘My father invites you, so that he might duly reward you for having watered our flock for us.’” (Verse 25)
It is a quick rescue granted by God. It comes in the form of an invitation sent by the old man, who wants to extend his hospitality to Moses for his noble act. The invitation is delivered by “one of the two” who came “walking shyly,” as a virtuous young woman should walk, displaying no adornments and trying no temptation. She delivers the invitation in a brief and clear manner that the Qur’an expresses as: “My father invites you, so that he might duly reward you for having watered our flock for us.” (Verse 25) Shy as she was, she speaks clearly, without hesitation, and delivers her message in full. This is, again, a reflection of a pure and sound nature which the young woman displays as she feels shy when meeting men and talking to them. Yet her shyness does not overcome her, because she is assured by her purity and virtue.
The surah ends this brief scene, limiting it to the delivery of the invitation and Moses’ acceptance. The next scene shows Moses with the old man whose name is withheld. It is mentioned in some reports that he was called Yathrun and that he was Prophet Shuayb’s nephew. “And when (Moses) went to him and told him his story, he said: ‘Have no fear. You are now safe from those wrongdoing folk’.” (Verse 25)
Moses was in need of security, as he needed to eat and drink, but his need for the first was stronger. Hence, the account given in the surah emphasizes this, making the first word the old man says in comment on Moses’ story: “Have no fear.” He wanted him to feel at ease by dispelling his fear. He then explains the reason: “You are now safe from those wrongdoing folk.” (Verse 25) They have no authority over Madyan and cannot harm its residents.